At the dawn of its 110th year, San Francisco’s Japantown currently faces challenges in maintaining its identity as a regional hub of Japanese and Japanese American culture. About five decades since the Japan Center was built, many of the neighborhood’s longtime business owners have come of retirement age. As these businesses close, the neighborhood faces questions on how it should promote itself and preserve its legacy.

BEACON OF HOPE — The Japantown Task Force, along with other Japantown organizations and businesses raised funds to light the Peace Plaza and Buchanan Mall to attract more customers during the holidays.